CBN Inc

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We are a young company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, committed to making backyard wild bird feeding more enjoyable for you and the birds. The war between bird feeders and squirrels has raged for many years with squirrels still winning most of the battles. Not any more! Products sold by us are designed to discourage squirrels from eating the feed that is intended for the birds. Our products are all natural, safe and organic. As with many new inventions, the story behind coating birdseed with hot pepper to safely and effectively rid bird-feeding environments of squirrels and other pesky furry intruders is an interesting one. It begins with Dr. Joe Dunn, a Buffalo native who has an undergraduate degree in chemistry and a PhD degree in pharmacology (the science of drug action and chemistry) from the State University of New York at Buffalo. In 1980, Dr. Dunn was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School. At Harvard, Dr. Dunn studied in the laboratory of Dr. Peter M. Blumberg, a prominent biochemist pursuing basic research to discover the biochemical causes of many diseases, including cancer. Dr. Blumberg ’s specific expertise was in the fields of cellular pharmacology, carcinogenesis (the process of cancer formation) and pain intervention. In 1982, Dr. Blumberg decided to devote his career to the study of cancer research and left Harvard to join the staff of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland as Section Head in the Laboratory of Cellular Carcinogenesis and Tumor Promotion. He recruited Dr. Dunn to join him there. At the National Institute of Health (NIH), one of the areas Dr. Blumberg ’s research team focused on was examining natural irritants and their effect on tumor formation and growth. Among the chemicals studied was capsaicin, the natural occurring component of hot chili peppers that produces a "hot" sensation when eaten. While capsaicin is a very powerful , it is also all organic and non-toxic. Research also proved that it had no effect on tumor formation, but interesting observations and theories about neural receptors abounded. The studies showed that the "hot" sensation is caused by capsaicin binding to specific, high affinity "capsaicinoid" receptors on C-afferent (nociceptor) nerve fibers causing the release of the neurotransmitter Substance P producing a "perceived" painful response in mammals. However, there is no physical damage or lasting sensation as a result of contact with capsaicin. Mammals (squirrels, rabbits, deer, raccoons, rats and mice, as well as humans) have these receptors, and therefore, experience hot sensations when exposed to chili peppers. The scientists at the NIH wondered whether all species of animals have capsaicin sensitive receptors. It has been long observed that several species of birds could eat chili peppers regardless of the level of capsaicin present. Studies were undertaken which proved that birds either lack capsaicin receptors or have receptors that are insensitive to this compound. Most botanists and ornithologists believe that nature evolved this way so that birds would freely eat the pepper plants thereby spreading undigested seeds over wide areas.

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